Hello! My name is Harsimran Makkad, and I am a senior at Sycamore High School. This is my fourth year in the journalism program, where I serve as Executive Web Editor-in-Chief, directing, developing, and managing the website, shsleaf.org. I believe in a hands-on approach, and my curiosity and desire to move fast often motivates me to get my hands dirty. Apart from posting articles daily, I am working to make the site more engaging to our viewers.

My exploration of various genres such as News, Feature, and Opinion has engendered a passion for social issues such as equality and women’s rights. This fervor erupted into a research paper I wrote last year, which traced the fight for women’s rights through the 1970s as part of the Feminist Art Movement.

Obviously, I love art of all forms: drawing, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This is why I take pride in designing pages using software such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. I especially enjoy formatting pieces in a web-friendly manner. My love for art also extends to the fine arts - I am currently entering my 10th year of tap dancing at the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, where I have also furthered my vocal and acting skills.

Through my time in journalism, I have learned to appreciate, and maybe even welcome, the uncomfortable. I even enjoy taking risks and trying new things. This applies to all my classes, particularly the sciences. For the past five years, I have explored various science projects in-depth, which I presented at the school, district, and state science fairs. I have employed statistics to validate robustness of experimental data, hypothesis testing to verify soundness of results, and have used calculus, vectors, and matrices to build mathematical models. I wish to conduct similar research in college.

My love for science extends to the medical field. Over this summer, I interned at the Cincinnati Eye Institute, where through shadowing various ophthalmologists I honed the skill of interacting with others. What was invaluable was the diversity I encountered - people of all different ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I listened to their stories and learned more about them as individuals. This experience was a self-realization: I want to make a difference in people’s lives sometime in the not-so-distant future, just as these doctors did with their patients. As the poet Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thus, I hope to find a career that allows me to employ my knowledge and skills set to positively impact the world and make it a better place for all.

In addition to journalism, I take part in SHS’s Book Club, Math Club, and Latin Club. I am also an active member in National Honor Society. Volunteering with younger kids comes to me naturally since every day I help my two young siblings with their school work. Furthermore, I am a leader of a team working on the development and creation of an Alumni Wall for the school.

I love to read a variety of books, whether they are novels, news articles, or science-related journals. Some of my favorite books include When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.My motto is embodied by the words of Vivian Greene: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Harsimran Makkad, Executive Web Editor-in-Chief

May 24, 2018

Inspiring quotes from fictional characters (Story)

May 10, 2018

Nathalie Bonin, 11 (Story/Media)

May 07, 2018

‘The other side’ (Story)

May 07, 2018

Students display musical talents at Senior Art Show (Story/Media)

May 04, 2018

Senior Art Show decorates lobby (Story/Media)

May 03, 2018

Day of Silence (Story)

May 02, 2018

Seniors pick up caps, gowns (Story/Media)

Apr 30, 2018

After Prom transforms school (Story)

Apr 29, 2018

Aviator Chorale, Bella Voce compete at state (Story)

Apr 29, 2018

‘A Midnight in Paris’ (Story/Media)

May 01, 2018

April 2018 Columns: Remembering Columbine, paper books (Media)

Apr 24, 2018

Young historian advances to national competition (Story)

Apr 19, 2018

Hurricanes (Story)

Apr 18, 2018

Students, PTO set up After Prom decorations for weeks leading up to event (Story)

Apr 16, 2018

Student Council, PTO prepare for Prom, After Prom (Media)

Apr 12, 2018

Prom, After Prom tickets go on sale (Story/Media)

Apr 12, 2018

Dr. Ami Klin (Story)

Apr 10, 2018

Innovative students present at Buckeye Science Fair (Media)

Apr 09, 2018

Young scientists take on competitions (Media)

Apr 02, 2018

Melinda Looney, 12 (Story/Media)

Mar 31, 2018

Young mathematicians compete at state OHMIO (Story/Media)

Mar 29, 2018

Students teeter-totter with local Argentinian children (Story)

Mar 28, 2018

OJCL competitors bring home awards (Story)

Mar 28, 2018

Ohio government considers action in response to gun violence (Story)

Mar 27, 2018

Young historians honor fallen soldiers (Story)

Mar 25, 2018

When students speak (Story)

Apr 01, 2018

Mader speaks on school safety (Media)

Mar 19, 2018

Latin scholars win numerous accolades (Story)

Mar 16, 2018

Students call for change (Story/Media)

Mar 14, 2018

‘Enough is enough’ (Story/Media)

Mar 14, 2018

Student activists walk out for beliefs (Story/Media)

Mar 14, 2018

Happy Pi Day (Story)

Mar 13, 2018

Princess Diana of Wales (Story)

Mar 09, 2018

February 2018 Columns: How journalists, ‘Wonder’ change lives (Media)

Mar 05, 2018

Fine Arts Weekend wows community (Story/Media)

Mar 03, 2018

Students display work in annual district art show (Story)

Feb 26, 2018

TEAMS of young engineers achieve victory (Story)

Feb 26, 2018

Taft ARC program opens new doors for students (Story)

Feb 20, 2018

‘More than just a drug problem’ (Story)

Feb 11, 2018

President Donald Trump’s visit to Blue Ash leaves mark on area (Story/Media)